Southern Pygmy Perch Nannoperca australis

Introduction species tank, or with other peaceful species. Give them a Southern Pygmy Perch are a small native fish, usually tank with driftwood and live plants for hiding places, and found in small streams or swamps of South-eastern some open swimming areas. Although not a schooling fish Australia. They are ideal for mosquito control in small they benefit by being kept with a number of their own kind.

garden ponds and being tadpole-friendly, are also quite Feeding suitable for frog ponds. Pygmy Perch will eat aquarium fish foods such as small They can also be kept in unheated aquaria (including Nano slow-sinking pellets, and frozen or live foods. They greatly Tanks). benefit from a varied diet, and if being fed dry foods, they relish receiving frozen food treats such as Aquarium Maximum Size Industries Frozen Brine Shrimp, Bloodworm or Daphnia, Commonly grows to 5 – 6 cm in length, occasionally these fresh foods help stimulate their appetite. growing to a maximum of 8cm. Also excellent for controlling mosquito wrigglers in garden ponds. Water Quality Temperature: tolerates 5°C - 30°C (preferred range 8-22° Breeding C). Southern Pygmy Perch are egg-layers, scattering their pH: 7.0—8.0 eggs on water plants and over the substrate. This fish General Hardness: 75 - 300 ppm. comes into breeding season in winter (in nature coinciding with water levels starting to rise due to winter rains, and Southern Pygmy Perch usually inhabit slightly alkaline food becoming more abundant as a result). They typically water, they are not too fussy about water chemistry, spawn throughout late winter-spring as water temperatures but they do appreciate clean, well filtered water. They rise into the mid-high teens. After hatching, the free prefer cooler temperatures rather than tropical swimming baby fish require small live foods such as temperatures, making them ideal for garden ponds infusoria and baby brine shrimp. Pygmy Perch will readily and unheated aquariums in temperate climate areas. breed in a garden pond and can create a self-perpetuating population. Colouration Sexes can only easily be distinguished when the fish are in When not in breeding colour, mainly olive-brown body breeding colours: males are more brightly coloured and colour with mostly clear fins. In breeding colour, males slightly slimmer compared to gravid females. develop bright red and black fins, and heightened body colour. Various slightly different geographic colour Compatibility variations occur in nature. Southern Pygmy Perch are a good cold-water community (To help protect the natural variations of this fish in the tank species and will mix well with other peaceful wild, please first consult with your state fisheries if you community species such as Murray Rainbows and small want to stock this species in wetlands or farm dams that Goldfish. drain into natural waterways).

Unpacking Procedure Tank Set-Up Before unpacking, float bag to match water temperatures An easily cared for fish that does well in either in a single and follow unpacking procedure on the bag.

2015